Pressure spike absorbing systems

Abstract

An apparatus for coupling to a fluid delivery system and for receiving a fluid into the apparatus; a portion of the apparatus permitting a change in shape or size to accommodate the fluid volume or pressure received therein. The apparatus including a housing with a cavity, an expandable reservoir with an opening and a passage, and a cap; the expandable reservoir positioned within the cavity and coupled to a fluid source. The expandable reservoir includes an unrestrained orientation when a fluid volume or pressure therein is below a threshold, and an expanded orientation, when the fluid volume or pressure therein is above the threshold; the expandable reservoir moving toward the expanded orientation to accommodate a fluid volume or pressure received through an opening, and the expandable reservoir moving toward the unrestrained orientation to direct a fluid volume or pressure through an opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pressure spike absorbing system, comprising:
 a housing comprising an inner surface forming a cavity, a ventilation passage that extends from the cavity to an outer surface of the housing, a first retaining bore, and a first tubing passage that extends from the cavity through a first portion of the housing, from the first retaining bore to the outer surface of the housing, wherein the inner surface of the housing comprises a cross-sectional width that tapers from the cavity toward the first retaining bore, and the ventilation passage is configured to permit a gas to move into and out of the cavity through the ventilation passage; 
 a cap coupled to a second portion of the housing, the cap comprising a second retaining bore and a second tubing passage, wherein the second tubing passage extends from the second retaining bore to an outer surface of the cap; and 
 an expandable reservoir comprising a first end having a first opening, a second end having a second opening, and an inner surface forming a passage that extends between the first and second openings, wherein the expandable reservoir is positioned within the cavity such that (i) the first end of the expandable reservoir extends within the first retaining bore such that a first tubing can be inserted into the first opening of the expandable reservoir to engage against the inner surface of the expandable reservoir at the first end thereof, and (ii) the second end of the expandable reservoir extends within the second retaining bore such that a second tubing can be inserted into the second opening of the expandable reservoir to engage against the inner surface of the expandable reservoir at the second end thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity extends through the second portion of the housing toward the first portion of the housing. 
     
     
       3. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the cap comprises a cross-sectional width that tapers from the cavity toward the second tubing passage. 
     
     
       4. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, and wherein the second end portion is positioned in the cavity of the housing. 
     
     
       5. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 1 , comprising a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the expandable reservoir. 
     
     
       6. A pressure spike absorbing system, comprising:
 a first tubing end portion and a second tubing end portion; 
 a housing comprising a cavity, a ventilation passage that extends from the cavity to an outer surface of the housing, a first tubing passage that extends through a first portion of the housing, a first retaining bore extending from the cavity to the first tubing passage, a second tubing passage that extends through a second portion of the housing, and a second retaining bore extending from the cavity to the second tubing passage, wherein an inner cross-sectional width of the housing tapers from the cavity toward the first retaining bore; and 
 an expandable reservoir comprising a first end having a first opening, a second end having a second opening, and a passage that extends between the first and second openings, wherein the expandable reservoir is positioned within the cavity such that the first end of the expandable reservoir extends within the first retaining bore, and the second end of the expandable reservoir extends within the second retaining bore, and wherein (i) the first tubing end portion extends through the first tubing passage and the first opening of the expandable reservoir to engage against an inner surface at the first end of the expandable reservoir, and (ii) the second tubing end portion extends through the second tubing passage and the second opening of the expandable reservoir to engage against the inner surface at the second end of the expandable reservoir, 
 wherein, when a fluid is injected through the first tubing end portion, the fluid is directed into the passage to move the expandable reservoir from an unrestrained orientation toward an expanded orientation. 
 
     
     
       7. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the expandable reservoir is spaced apart from an inner surface of the housing in the unrestrained orientation. 
     
     
       8. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the expandable reservoir is engaged against an inner surface of the housing in the expanded orientation. 
     
     
       9. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 6 , wherein when the expandable reservoir moves from the expanded orientation toward the unrestrained orientation, the fluid is directed from the passage toward the second tubing end portion. 
     
     
       10. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 6 , comprising a cap having a first end portion, a second end portion, wherein the second retaining bore and the second tubing passage extend through the cap. 
     
     
       11. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 10 , wherein the second end portion is configured to extend into the cavity of the housing. 
     
     
       12. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 6 , wherein the passage of the expandable reservoir comprises a first volume in the unrestrained orientation, and a second volume, greater than the first volume, in the expanded orientation. 
     
     
       13. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 6 , comprising a flow control valve coupled between the first tubing end portion and the expandable reservoir, wherein the flow control valve resists movement of a fluid from the expandable reservoir toward the first tubing end portion. 
     
     
       14. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 6 , wherein the ventilation passage is configured to permit a gas to move out of the cavity when the expandable reservoir moves from the unrestrained orientation toward the expanded orientation, and to permit a gas to move into the cavity when the expandable reservoir moves from the expanded orientation toward the unrestrained orientation. 
     
     
       15. A pressure spike absorbing system, comprising:
 a housing comprising a cavity, a first retaining bore that extends from the cavity toward a first portion of the housing, a first tubing passage that extends from the first retaining bore through the first portion of the housing, a second retaining bore that extends from the cavity toward a second portion of the housing, and a second tubing passage that extends from the second retaining bore through the second portion of the housing, wherein an inner cross-sectional width of the housing tapers from the cavity toward the first retaining bore; 
 an expandable reservoir comprising an inner surface forming a passage that extends between a first opening at a first end of the expandable reservoir and a second opening at a second end of the expandable reservoir, wherein the expandable reservoir is positioned within the cavity such that the first end of the expandable reservoir extends within the first retaining bore, and the second end of the expandable reservoir extends within the second retaining bore; and 
 an intravenous tubing having an end portion extending through any of the first or second tubing passages such that an outer surface of the intravenous tubing engages against the inner surface of the expandable reservoir along the respective one of the first or second retaining bores. 
 
     
     
       16. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises a ventilation passage that extends from the cavity to an outer surface of the housing. 
     
     
       17. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 15 , wherein the intravenous tubing is coupled to the expandable reservoir by an interference fit. 
     
     
       18. The pressure spike absorbing system of  claim 15 , wherein the cross-sectional width tapers from the cavity toward the second retaining bore.